ALWAYS TWINS

Being twins isn’t all it’s quacked up to be for two duckling siblings.

Two ducklings hatching out of the same egg on the title page alert readers that the twins to come in this gentle story are identical. Wherever these ducklings, Lily and Olivia, go, they hear, “You two are just alike!” and happily acknowledge their similarities. Except they aren’t always alike. While Olivia enjoys jumping in the mud, quacking at bugs and racing about, Lily prefers making daisy chains, gazing at clouds and studying the world around her. Sometimes these pastimes don’t mix well, especially when a full-tilt Olivia destroys the flower Lily is holding. Suddenly they notice that they are not alike, “[n]ot one bit!” After they storm off in separate directions, Lily becomes lonely and discovers that Olivia has gotten stuck in a tree. As they help each other out of a mild predicament, things become just ducky again as they re-establish their bond and realize that they have both similarities and differences. In this picture book, the first that Weidner has both written and illustrated, watercolor-and–colored-pencil artwork in a soft palette shows the ducklings’ anger, fear and love in ways that young children can identify. Large-print text also helps emergent readers follow along.

Although obviously fitting for twins, the story’s themes can easily apply to other siblings and friends as well.